Potassium is critical to life functions because it balances water and conducts electricity. These functions are essential for your heart rhythm, muscle contractions and basic digestion. Without enough potassium in your body, you’ll feel overly tired and weak and your heart might not be able to correctly function. While you should ideally get the potassium you need from foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, juice, nuts and seeds, sometimes you need to take a supplement.

Intake Recommendations

The amount of potassium you require each day stays the same throughout all of your senior years, no matter your gender. You’ll need 4,700 milligrams per day, according to the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine. But when your potassium is running low -- whether because you don’t have much variety in your diet or because you have kidney disease, a severe flu or other medical issue that throws off your potassium level -- your physician might recommend you temporarily take a larger dose.

Taking Supplements

If you want to take a potassium supplement, check with your doctor first. Supplements should always be taken under a doctor's guidance. It's the best way to avoid hyperkalemia, a condition of elevated blood potassium, which can lead to an array of health complications.

Don't worry if you’re taking a daily multivitamin-mineral supplement. These all-in-one supplements do not have more than 99 milligrams of potassium per dose in the United States, reports the Linus Pauling Institute. The low potassium content of multivitamins is designed to protect you from overdosing on the mineral.

Considering Medications

Certain medications can increase your chances of having too much potassium in your body. Blood anticoagulants, diuretics, cholesterol-lowering medications and even regular ibuprofen, are just some of the pills that interact poorly with potassium supplements. Before you take any kind of new supplement, including a multivitamin-mineral, let your doctor know as a precautionary measure.

About the Author

Melodie Anne Coffman specializes in overall wellness, with particular interests in women's health and personal defense. She holds a master's degree in food science and human nutrition and is a certified instructor through the NRA. Coffman is pursuing her personal trainer certification in 2015.